The BCCI informed that India batsman Sanju Samson would miss the rest of the T20I series against Sri Lanka due to a knee injury. Jitesh Sharma is expected to replace the batsman in the forthcoming match, which will be contested on Friday, January 5 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
In the second innings of the first T20I, Samson was hit in the knee while gathering the ball. The BCCI said that the hitter had remained back for scans to establish the extent of his ailment. The Kerala-born hitter had a slow start to 2023 with his bat, scoring just five runs off six deliveries before being removed by Dhananjaya de Silva.
The Men in Blue have also recruited Vidarbha wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, who will fill in for explosive batsman Ishan Kishan for the next two games. Furthermore, Samson’s injury might pave the way for Rahul Tripathi to make his debut appearance for the national team.
The Hardik Pandya-led team presently leads the series 1-0 against the Islanders after a last-ball drama in the first of three T20Is in Mumbai. The Men in Blue have momentum and will be looking to seal the series in their next match on Friday.
Dasun Shanaka and company, on the other side, will strive to win if they wish to re-enter the competition and tie the series. India has never lost a home series against the Lankan Lions and will aim to keep the record alive in the next encounter in Pune.
